Brucie and Tess are ready, the judges are excitable. Katy Brand is
made-up with a proper ‘showbiz face’. Let the unstoppable
juggernaut that is Strictly Come Dancing begin.

So, the morning of the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, and here I am at BBC TV Centre. It’s 10am and I know I am in for a long day, with the actual recording not starting until this evening. I am met by a friendly runner in the car park, who says she would like to take me to make-up right away.

I ask if I can go to the loo first and she looks a bit thrown, but luckily for me, and the make-up department, I am allowed. I sit on the toilet, with the runner waiting outside, and wonder how on earth I am going to keep a full face of Strictly Come Dancing make-up intact and camera-ready for the next 10 hours. Little do I realise I have no need to worry.

I wash my hands and then am firmly led to the make-up room. This runner is assigned to me, and only me, all day. All the contestants have one each. I know this is to help us, and I’m very grateful, but I also wonder if it’s also a clever ploy by the executives to stop any of us trying to run away. I settle into the make-up chair with my runner hovering close by. Let the maquillage commence.

It is impossible to underestimate the sheer number of layers that goes into a proper ‘showbiz face’. They build up a wall of foundation, blusher and powder that a nuclear apocalypse couldn’t shift – what was I so worried about? They kindly ask me what kind of ‘look’ I would like – I suggest something a bit modern, and they let me get my way for a little while.

We have a clean black line on my eyelid, with little flicks to the side, and a nude lipstick. It’s about four hundred times more make-up than I would usually wear, even on TV, but I can feel a bit of uncertainty in the air – is it ‘Strictly’ enough? We agree we will see it on camera, and then decide.

I am taken to costume to see my completed dress for the first time. It is a fabulous turquoise number with a long floating skirt and rhinestones stuck all over it. Perfect. But it’s not quite complete – there is some sequinning that still needs doing.

I take my clothes off in this room of strangers (actors become completely inured to this after a few years) and pull the dress on. It fits perfectly, as it would. The ladies of costume examine it for a few minutes, then I take it off again, and give it back for more sparkles to be added. You can NEVER have too many sparkles.

Here’s my runner again – straight into the studio for a ‘camera block’ (where we all dance around for the cameras to figure out the best angles for the recording) and to learn the opening number for the show, which thankfully is fairly simple.

It goes well, and I get to see the other contestants’ dances for the first time – my god, they’re impressive. We all have a little huddle and convey our mutual nerves and hysteria at ‘actually being on Strictly’. Then I am moved on to the next appointment – an interview with the BBC online team.

Lunchtime comes and goes like the irrelevance it is. Down to hair, where an expert curls and winds and clips my locks until I look like something out of a Disney film. Excellent. Back to costume to get changed for the dress rehearsal. I daren’t ask to go to the loo again. My dress still has a bit more to do on it, so I put it on, knowing I’ll be taking it off again very shortly.

The dress rehearsal commences. It is very stop/start, but it moves along, and Brucie seems in a very good mood, as do the judges.

I can see why people on the show describe it as ‘a family’ – it definitely has that vibe. Anton and I see the full set and props we requested for our dance for the first time – they look fabulous, but it all feels rather intimidating that this is only time we will have to practice with them before tonight. It’s not quite what I’m used to.

The Strictly special on Christmas Day promises lots of surprises. Photo: BBC

Anton is very reassuring, and I’m really glad to have him there to steady the nerves. He’s in his element here, and all the ‘pros’ seem to get along very well. It must be so strange for them, knowing they can dance together in such a magical fashion, and yet their highest profile performances are dancing with clodhopping beginners the whole time.

Word comes from on high that my face ‘does not look Strictly enough’ on camera, and my mouth is ‘getting lost’. I am sent back to make-up like a naughty girl, but the make-up ladies are kind enough not to say ‘I told you so’. A neon-pink lipstick is applied, which I have to admit does look rather good, and a lot more glitter is poured over my eyelids, face and hair. We are now ‘getting there’, apparently.

Dinner passes – I eat a plate of chicken and broccoli standing up while doing interviews with three print journalists, and then, before I know it, it’s showtime.

Brucie and Tess are ready for some Strictly Special action. Photo: BBC

A quick visit to hair for a tweak and a spray, back to costume for my completed dress, back to make-up for another dunk in the glitter pot, and off we go. The studio audience is in, Brucie and Tess are ready, the judges are excitable. The cameras turn over, the music is played and the unstoppable juggernaut that is Strictly Come Dancing shudders into action.

I am feverish with excitement – I don’t care about winning, I just want to do my dance well and enjoy being here.